the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第23章

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ol　where　Mr。　Avard　lived。　He　was　made　a　local　preacher　in　1790。　For　a　short　time　he　lived　in　London；　and　a　daughter　was　buried　in　the　City　Road　burying…　ground。　In　1806　Mr。　Avard　emigrated　to　Prince　Edward　Island；　landing　at　Charlottetown　on　May　15th；　where　he　remained　until　1813。　In　the　fall　of　that　year　he　left　Charlottetown；　with　the　intention　of　going　to　Windsor；　N。S。；　but　on　reaching　Bay　Verte　he　decided　to　stay　the　winter　in　New　Brunswick。　A　part　of　the　time　was　spent　in　Fort　Lawrence；　and　in　the　spring　he　removed　to　Sackville；　where　he　made　his　home　until　near　the　close　of　life。　He　died　at　his　son's　home；　in　Jolicure；　in　his　eighty…seventh　year。

Of　the　three　children　that　came　with　Joseph　Avard　to　America；　Elizabeth　married　John　Boyer；　of　Charlottetown；　Adam　Clark　entered　the　ministry；　and　died　in　Fredericton；　in　1821；　Joseph　was　educated　in　Bristol；　England；　and　soon　after　his　arrival　in　America　found　his　way　to　Chignecto　and　taught　school　several　years　in　Point　de　Bute。　In　1813　he　married　Margaret　Wells；　daughter　of　William　Wells；　of　Point　de　Bute。　They　had　a　family　of　seven　sons　and　four　daughters；　four　of　whom　are　still　living…John；　William　and　Charles；　of　Shemogue；　N。B。；　and　Mrs。　McQueen；　of　Point　de　Bute。　William　married　Eliza　Trueman。

Joseph　Avard；　jun。；　was　man　of　strong　character；　and　when　he　set　his　will　to　do　a　piece　of　work　he　was　generally　successful。　He　settled　first　in　Jolicure；　where　he　conducted　a　farming　and　mercantile　business。　He　subsequently　bought　a　large　tract　of　land　in　Shemogue；　N。B。；　and　for　many　years　he　was　farmer；　ship…builder　and　merchant　in　that　locality；　where　he　spent　the　last　thirty　years　of　his　life。

In　1838；　while　on　a　business　trip　to　River　Philip；　Mr。　Avard　was　greatly　shocked；　as　were　the　public　in　general；　with　the　report　that　an　entire　family　had　been　murdered　in　the　vicinity；　and　that　the　man；　Maurice　Doyle；　who　was　suspected　of　the　crime；　had　escaped　and　was　on　his　way　to　the　United　States；　his　aim　being　to　get　to　St。　John　and　take　shipping　there。　As　Doyle　was　known　to　be　a　desperate　character；　no　one　seemed　willing　〃to　run　him　down。〃　　As　soon　as　Mr。　Avard　knew　the　state　of　affairs　he　at　once　volunteered　to　undertake　the　work。　In　the　meantime　Doyle　had　got　a　good　start。　At　Amherst　Head　he　hired　a　farmer；　George　Glendenning；　to　take　him　to　the　Four　Corners；　Sackville。　Mrs。　Glendenning　was　suspicious　of　the　man；　and　advised　her　husband　to　have　nothing　to　do　with　him；　but　Mr。　Glendenning　laughed　at　her　fears。　The　dog；　however；　seemed　to　share　his　mistress's　suspicions；　and　what　was　very　unusual；　determined　to　see　his　master　through　with　the　business。　In　spite　of　every　effort　the　dog　could　not　be　turned　back　from　following　the　chaise。　Afterward；　when　Mr。　Glendenning　learned　the　character　of　the　man；　he　believed　the　dog　had　saved　his　life；　for　in　crossing　the　Sackville　marsh；　several　miles　from　any　house；　Doyle　asked　him　if　the　dog　would　protect　him　if　he　were　attacked。

Mr。　Avard　always　drove　a　good　horse；　and　by　changing　horses　and　driving　night　and　day　he　overtook　and　captured　the　fugitive　at　Sussex。　At　one　place　in　the　chase　he　prevented　the　man　from　getting　on　board　the　stage；　but　could　not　arrest　him。　When　he　finally　apprehended　the　fugitive；　he　brought　him　back　in　his　chaise　and　delivered　him　to　the　authorities　in　Amherst；　where　he　subsequently　paid　the　penalty　of　his　crime　on　the　scaffold。　The　documents　following；　as　will　be　seen；　refer　to　this　piece　of　early　history：

〃PROVINCIAL　SECRETARY'S　OFFICE；　〃HALIFAX；　10TH　JULY；　1838。

〃SIR；It　appearing　by　the　report　of　the　Local　Authorities　at　Amherst　that　the　prompt　arrest　of　the　supposed　perpetrator　of　the　atrocious　murders　recently　committed　in　the　County　of　Cumberland　is　mainly　attributable　to　your　zealous　exertions；　I　have　it　in　command　to　request　you　to　believe　that　His　Excellency　the　Lieut。…Governor　and　H。　M。　Council　highly　appreciate　the　important　services　which；　at　much　personal　risk；　you　rendered　in　pursuing；　for　upwards　of　100　miles；　and　apprehending　the　Prisoner；　and　it　is　my　pleasing　duty　to　request　you　to　accept　of　the　best　thanks　of　His　Excellency　and　the　Council　for　your　admirable　conduct　on　that　occasion。　I　have　the　honor　to　be

〃Sir；　〃Your　most　obedient　〃Humble　Servant；　〃RUPERT　D。　GEORGE。

〃JOSEPH　AVARD；　Esq。；　J。P。；　〃Westmoreland。〃

Mr。　Avard's　reply。

〃WESTMORELAND　CO。；　WESTMORELAND；　〃N。B。；　July　18th；　1838。

〃SIR；I　have　the　honor　to　acknowledge　the　receipt　of　your　note　of　the　10th　instant　conveying　to　me　in　a　most　gratifying　manner　the　approbation　of　His　Excellency　the　Lieutenant…Governor　and　Her　Majesty's　Council　of　my　conduct　in　pursuing　and　apprehending　Doyle；　the　supposed　perpetrator　of　the　murder　in　the　County　of　Cumberland；　and　beg　leave　through　you　to　acquaint　His　Excellency　and　Her　Majesty's　Council　that　were　it　possible　for　me　to　possess　any　stronger　sense　of　my　duty　（as　a　magistrate）　to　Her　Majesty　and　the　Government　than　I　formerly　felt；　I　must　do　so　from　the　very　handsome　manner　in　which　they　have　been　pleased　to　appreciate　and　acknowledge　my　services　on　that　occasion。

〃I　have　the　honor　to　be　〃Your　obedient　〃Humble　Servant；　〃JOSEPH　AVARD。

〃THE　HONORABLE　〃RUPERT　D。　GEORGE；　〃Provincial　Secretary；　Halifax；　N。S。〃

DIXON。

Charles　Dixon　was　one　of　the　first　of　the　Yorkshire　settlers　to　arrive　in　Nova　Scotia。　He　sailed　from　Liverpool　on　the　16th　March；　on　board　the　DUKE　OF　YORK；　and　after　a　voyage　of　six　weeks　and　four　days　arrived　safely　at　the　port　of　Halifax。　Mr。　Dixon　says　of　himself：　　〃I；　Charles　Dixon；　was　born　March　8th；　old　style；　in　the　year　1730；　at　Kirleavington；　near　Yarm；　in　the　east　riding　of　Yorkshire；　in　Old　England。　I　was　brought　up　to　the　bricklayer's　trade　with　my　father　until　I　was　about　nineteen　years　of　age；　and　followed　that　calling　till　the　twenty…ninth　year　of　my　age。　I　then　engaged　in　a　paper　manufactory　at　Hutton　Rudby；　and　followed　that　business　for　the　space　of　about　twelve　years　with　success。　At　the　age　of　thirty…one　I　married　Susanna　Coates；　by　whom　have　had　one　son　and　four　daughters。〃　Three　more　children　were　added　to　Mr。　Dixon's　family；　and　in　1891　his　descendants　in　America　numbered　2；807；　of　whom　2；067　were　living　and　740　had　died。

Charles　Dixon　settled　in　Sackville；　N。B。；　and　very　soon　became　one　of　the　leading　men　in　that　community。　He　was　a　zealous　Methodist；　his　biographer　says：　　〃His　house　was　a　home　for　the　early　Methodist　preachers；　to　whom　he　always　gave　a　warm　and　hearty　welcome。〃　Mr。　Dixon　was　one　of　the　members　who　took　an　active　part　in　the　erection　of　the　first　Methodist　church　in　Sackville；　while　he　and　his　neighbor；　William　Cornforth；　whose　land　adjoined；　jointly　set　apart　about　four　acres　of　land　for　a　Methodist　parsonage。　One　of　the　latest　of　his　efforts　at　writing　contained　instructions　to　his　executors　to　sell　certain　articles　of　his　personal　property　to　assist　in　furnishing　the　Methodist　parsonage。

There　are　not　many　of　the　Dixon　name　now　living　in　Sackville。　The　boys　of　the　families　have　had　a　tendency　to　seek　wider　fields　for　the　exercise　of　their　energies。　The　late　James　Dixon；　of　Sackville；　the　historian　of　the　family；　was　a　man　of　strong　character　and　more　than　ordinary　ability。

William　Coates　Dixon　married　Mary　J。　Trueman　in　1841；　and　resided　in　Sackville　until　the　death　of　Mrs。　Dixon；　which　took　place　in　1844。　Subsequently　he　married　Harriet　E。　Arnold　and　settled　on　a　farm　at　Maidstone；　Essex　County；　Ontario。　James　Dixon；　in　his　〃History　of　the　Dixons；〃　published　in　1892；　says　of　William　Dixon：　〃He　is　still　active　and　vigorous；　capable　of　much　physical　exertion；　and　has　an　excellent　memory；　is　a　diligent　reader；　with　a　decided　preference　for　poetical　works；　and　employs　some　of　his　leisure　hours　in　writing　poetic　effusions；　a　talent　which　only　developed　itself　when　its　possessor　had　nearly　reached　his　three　score　years　and　ten。〃　　We　have　not　heard　that　Mr。　Dixon　has　lost　any　of　his　vigor　since　the　above　was　written；　and　understand　he　expects　to　round　out　the　hundred。

PRESCOTT。

The　Prescotts　were　originally　from　Lancashire；　and　descended　from　Sir　James　Prescott；　of　Derby；　in　Lincolnshire。　John　and　his　wife；　Mary；　came　from　England　to　Boston　in　the　year　1640。　Jonathan　Prescott；　their　great…grandson；　was　a　surgeon　and　captain　of　engineers　at　the　siege　of　Louisbourg；　in　1745。　After　the　fall　of　Louisbourg　he　retired　from　the　army　and　settled　in　Nova　Scotia。　He　did　a　mercantile　business　in　Halifax；　and　owned　property　in　Chester　and　Lunenburg；　where　he　built　mills。　〃The　Indians　twice　burnt　his　house　in　Lunenburg　County。'　Mr。　Prescott　died　in　Chester；　in　1806；　and　his　widow　in　Halifax；　in　1810。　His　son；　Hon。　Charles　Ramage　Prescott；　was　a　prominent　merchant　of　Halifax；　but　on　account　of　failing　health　and　to　get　rid　of　the　fog　moved　to　King's　County；　N。S。　He　lived　for　years　at　Town　Plot；　where　his　beautiful　place；　called　〃Acadia　Villa；〃　was　situated。　He　was　twice　married。　His　first　wife　was　Hannah　Widden。　The　late　Charles　T。　Prescott；　of　Bay　Verte；　was　his　youngest　son　by　his　second　wife；　Maria　Hammill。　Mr。　Charles　Prescott　married　Matilda　E。　Madden；　April　30。　William；　Robert　and　Joseph；　of　Bay　Verte；　are　sons　of　Charles　T。　Prescott。　William　married　Mary　Trueman；　of　Point　de　Bute。

PRINCE*

＇FOOTNOTE：　*Rev。　John　Prince　was　a　respected　minister　of　the　Methodist　Church。　He　joined　the　Church　in　Point　de　Bute　and　commenced　his　ministry　there。　END　OF　FOOTNOTE＇

〃Moncton；　March　9th；　1899。

〃Dear　Mr。　Trueman：

〃I　have　just　received　your　card　requesting　information　respecting　my　family。　In　answer　I　may　say　that　my　late　father　was　a　native　of　North　Yarmouth；　near　the　city　of　Portland；　United　States。　He　emigrated　to　this　country　in　the　year　1813；　located　in　Moncton；　and　was　engaged　in　mercantile　pursuits　until　the　time　of　his　death　in　1851；　paying　one　hundred　cents　on　the　dollar。　After　taking　the　oath　of　allegiance　he　was　appointed　a　magistrate；　the　duties　of　which　he　discharged　with　great　fidelity　until　the　time　of　his　removal　from　earth。

〃My　father　was　a　sincere　Christian　and　a　deacon　in　the　Baptist　Church；　and　died　much　lamented。　His　family　consisted　of　twelve　children；　six　sons　and　six　daughters。　May；　the　eldest；　married　a　Mr。　Gallagher　and　had　several　children；　most　of　whom　are　dead。　Emily；　second　daughter；　married　Mr。　John　Newcomb；　father　of　the　distinguished　astronomer；　Prof。　Newcomb；　of　world…wide　reputation。　Joseph　married　Miss　Harris。　Harriet　married　Mr。　Thos。　Trueman。　William　has　been　an　accountant　in　the　railway　offices　of　this　city。　John's　wife　was　Miss　Embree；　of　Amherst；　and　his　second　wife　is　Mrs。　Cynthia；　formerly　Mrs。　Mariner　Wood。　James　resided　in　St。　John；　George　and　Henry；　both　dead。　George　never　married；　Henry　resided　in　Truro　at　the　time　of　his　death　and　married　to　Miss　Raine；　daughter　of　Capt。　Raine；　a　retired　naval　officer。　Rebecca；　Sarah　and　Ruth　never　married。

〃As　a　family　we　were　all　as　well　educated　as　the　circumstances　would　admit。　My　father's　people　in　the　United　States　were　nearly　all　Congregationalists；　and　my　great…grandfather　　Prince　was　a　minister　of　that　body。　He　was　pastor　of　a　church　in　Newburyport；　and　is　buried　in　a　vault　under　his　pulpit。　A　few　years　ago　I　visited　that　place；　partly　to　see　the　church；　which　was　built　by　my　great…grandfather。　When　Sabbath　morning　came　I　went　to